Energy Conversion and Power Generation in New Non-Pb Based Piezoelectric Oxide Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Structure-Property Relationships P. Shiv Halasyamani, Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 136 Fleming Building, Houston, TX 77204-5003 New Piezoelectric Materials: Piezoelectric materials are used in a variety of technologically important applications, such as solid-state batteries, sensors, and acoustic applications. Two major issues are associated with piezoelectrics. First, the material in question must be crystallographically noncentrosymmetric (NCS), i.e., no center of symmetry is allowed. Second, commercially viable piezoelectrics contain lead. We have developed a design and synthesis methodology wherein the incidence of NCS is increased to nearly 50%. This methodology does not require the use of lead.
